Software

Web Services

Choosing an Operating System

Most people have never thought about buying an operating system. It
came with the computer when they bought it. Most people use Microsoft
Windows and have come to expect computers to work a certain way, few
people have had reason to even wonder what an operating system is.
Though those "I'm a Mac. I'm a PC" ads may have got some percentage of
the population wondering.

So what is an operating system? It's
the software (computer program) that gets your computer working. It
makes your monitor and mouse work when you plug them in. It gives you a
way to start the games and word processors you use, and gives those
programs the resources they need to function. It also enables your
computer to connect with the internet and other computers.

So
choosing an operating system is looking at the big picture of how your
computer works. Most people have only heard of one (Windows) or two
(Windows and Mac) operating systems. I'd like to introduce you to a
third: Linux.

So, why would anyone want to choose an operating system? What difference does it make?

Why Consider Mac?

Apple have been making personal computers pretty much since personal
computers have existed. Apple computers are designed for elegance and
ease of use.

Most of the Apple Macintosh users I have met are are very
passionate, and find it hard to understand why someone would use
anything else. They see themselves as being Mac users for life.

Why should you consider joining them?

Macintosh computers are works of art. They are both gorgeous and
elegant. They are of very high quality. And these days the prices are
quite comparable to other computers, although they don't sell "budget"
computers that are basically crap.

Macintosh software is full featured and easy to use. The basic
applications generally have more features than the programs that come
with Windows.

And you are very unlikely to meet a virus while using a Mac. Not
only are there very few viruses written to attack Macs, the security
settings on a Mac are very good, and keep most malware at bay.

So, next time you're considering buying a new computer, visit an Apple Centre and check out a Mac!

And What Is Linux?

Linux is an operating system in the same way that Microsoft Windows
is an operating system. In fact, Linux is an alternative to Microsoft
Windows.

So, Linux is an alternative to operating systems like Microsoft Windows and Mac OS, except:

It is generally free of cost.

And comes with lots of programs you would normally have to spend more money on.

And is essentially free from viruses.

And is constantly being updated.

Linux doesn't belong to anyone, so there are many different versions
of it designed for lots of different sorts of people. If you have never
tried Linux you will want to start with a distribution that is easy to
use.

Linux Distributions

Imagine a kid in a candy store - and all the lollies are free. The
mouth waters. The mind boggles. So many options. So many taste
combinations. Where do a start? How long can I stay?

Now imagine a geek in his electronic equivalent. A free operating
system. Tens and hundreds of thousands of free programs. All freely
available from the internet. All customisable. And you can share them
all freely with your friends. What is the ideal combination of programs
he can put together? What is the coolest look? What will his friends
think?

Or imagine a company trying to put together the most effective and
stable collection of applications they can - either for themselves, or
to share with other companies. Out of all of the available programs,
only so many will fit on the CD they are sharing. What are the best
programs to choose?

This is what a Linux distribution (distro) is: A customised version
of Linux combined with a set of free programs put together by an
individual, a community, or a company.

Different distros may also have different "flavours", different
installation methods, differerent ways of updating software, and
different interfaces. Some are designed for specific groups of people
to help with specific jobs (e.g. recording studios, scientists, playing
back movies and multimedia), while other distros are more general.

In this section I introduce you to some of my favourites.

What If You Want To Stick With Windows?

Your
computer is already running Windows. You're familiar with it. All your
friends use it. Especially your geeky friends who help you with your
computer problems. You want to stick with Windows. Fair enough.

But
you need to realise that Windows is the least secure and most attacked
operating system. That means you need to be careful, and take
precautions. You need to practice safe computing. (Actually, everyone
should be aware of computer security and practice safe computing. But
it is more likely that Windows will suffer the consequences for not
doing so.)

Here are some practical hints.

How Do I Keep My Computer Safe?

Surfing the internet is like swimming with sharks! You are constantly in danger of attack and serious damage.

There is the danger of viruses and trojans. These are programs designed by intelligent but misguided people to cause you inconvenience or disaster.

There is the danger of adware which can cause an
infuriating number of advertising popups when we surf the internet,
alter the ads on the sites we visit, and even redirect our journey on
the internet to visit sites we had no intention of going to.

There is the danger of spyware which is designed to record
and report on what we use our computer for. Spyware can record the keys
we type on our computers, including passwords and other confidential
details. Spyware can record the internet sites we visit, and give that
information to advertisers.

There is the annoyance of spam - junk mail that jams our email
inboxes, and makes the paper version we get in our letter boxes seem
very tame.

The existence of all of this malware means that we need to be very
smart computer users. It is possible to protect ourselves so that we
minimise the impact of these things.

When using Microsoft Windows, there are programs we can use, and
habits we can develop, to minimise the impact of malware. And when
using alternatives to Microsoft Windows, you will find very little
reason for concern - although you will still want to make sensible
computing decisions.

I meet people who regularly format their computers to recover from
attack on almost a daily basis. A little knowledge and change in
practice will make that no longer necessary.